Exodus 39:1-7

¹ From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made intricately woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ² He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. ³ And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. ⁴ They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. ⁵ And the skillfully woven band on it was fashioned of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ⁶ They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. ⁷ And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

remembering who you serve

The design of the priests garments was intended to convey two truths simultaneously. First, the elaborate and precious nature of the ephod spoke of the worthiness of the LORD whom the priests were sworn to serve. Second, the names upon the shoulder pieces reminded the priests of the people of the nation who depended upon them to represent them in the presence of that mighty God. Those in ministry must always keep before them the reality of who they serve.

LORD, may we never forget your unparalleled holiness, nor the need of those who depend on us to represent them before you.